Hi-Up Entertainment made a statement on the 16th that STAYC will release their 1st Mini Album 'STEREOTYPE' on September 6. 'STEREOTYPE' is the newest album that STAYC is going to release after about 5 months since their second single 'STAYDOM'. Fans have high expectations since it is their first mini-album after debut. In addition, the scheduler for 'STEREOTYPE' was released on the official SNS account on August 16 while the countdown for the comeback is starting.

The scheduler revealed that STAYC plans to build up the excitement of the fans by having a sequential opening of various versions of concept photos and trailers before the release of the album. After the first step in the music industry for the single 'Star To A Young Culture' last year of November, Mr. Stay had a strong impression from the start which made the group achieve 1st place in the female rookie category for single album sales in 2020. While in the first half of this year, the title song 'ASAP' of 'STAYDOM' gained several hot responses and continues to be on top of music charts.

Meanwhile, STAYC won the rookie idol category at the '2021 Brand Customer Loyalty Awards, and was named in the US Grammy's 'Rising Korean Artist 5' and the US Time Magazine's 'Best K-Pop for 2021'. which proves the power of their power of being a '4th generation representative group'. Being able to build a unique genre called 'Teen Fresh' in their previous two activities, STAYC plans to perform bright and confident music and stages to channel pleasant energy to fans.

Finally, STAYC's first mini-album 'STEREOTYPE' will be available through several online music sites at 6 pm on the 6th of September.

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Actor Song Kang Ho shocked fans by revealing the surprising reason he initially turned down the iconic role in Joint Security Area (JSA).

On February 4, the movie JSA was celebrated as a "Visionary" work at a special GV (Guest Visit) event for CJ ENM’s 30th anniversary at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul. The event was attended by director Park Chan-wook and stars like Song Kang Ho, Lee Byung Hun, Lee Young Ae, Kim Tae Woo, and Ko Kyung Beom, who shared stories from the making of the film.

Joint Security Area, a groundbreaking film by director Park Chan-wook, tells the story of North and South Korean soldiers caught in a tragic incident at the border, highlighting the human side of the divided nations. The film has been widely praised for changing the perception of inter-Korean relations and is seen as a key moment in Korean cinema.

During the event, Song Kang Ho admitted that he turned down the JSA script at first, saying, "The script was just too perfect. It was so well-written and tightly woven that I couldn’t believe it. I thought, ‘Is this really Korean cinema at this level?’ I felt it was too good, and I figured the movie wouldn’t live up to the script."

He also mentioned that at the time, Park Chan-wook’s previous films hadn’t done well, which made him even more doubtful. "But after meeting the director, I started to trust him," Song Kang Ho added.

Reflecting on the film 20 years later, Song Kang Ho joked, "I was flipping through channels and watched JSA again. I thought, ‘There was a time when I wasn’t envious of Lee Byung Hun,’ but he looked so handsome and cool back then." He continued, laughing, "One thing about Park Chan-wook's films is that they have a depth and elegance that you just can’t forget. It’s probably why his new movie is called I Can’t Help It."

Song Kang Ho also spoke fondly of reuniting with his JSA co-stars after 25 years. He shared, "We didn’t watch the film together, but we had a cozy two-hour dinner. After all this time, it felt nostalgic. It was heartwarming to sit together again and reminisce about the past. It really made me realize how meaningful these moments are."

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